Konnichiwa! Ogenki desu ka, minna? Mayu wa genki desu. First, I want to thank everyone who did review for my previous chapter. Hontou ni arigato gozaimasu. Sorry for the late update. I have three multi-chapters fanfictions to update, you know. So, let's enjoy this fourth chapter!

Music Background-Mizu no Akashi, I Think I Love You, In The Quiet Night C.E 73

Chapter 4

Next morning, at 4.35 a.m, Cagalli crepted queitly in front of Kira's room. She was already in her school uniform; a long-sleeved white shirt with sleeve-less black jacket with Kusanagi High badge on it and black knee-high skirt. She also wore a thick, long-sleeved jacket outside, since it was very cold in the early morning.

Yawning, she opened Kira's door to see whether he was still asleep. To her relief, Kira was still dreaming. Cagalli closed the door carefully and sighed. She wondered if if she had done a right thing; working this hard just to beat a guy in a high school poem contest.

No! What am I thinking! Of course I must work hard! I can't possibly forget how he said he entered the contest just for fun! I must work hard! I must beat him!

She tip-toed to their caretaker's room, Mana. She was a bit worried if she had woke her up but luck was at her side today. She was the only one who woke up that early this morning. Then, without taking breakfast or doing anything else, she made her way out from the house with her school bag hanging freely at her right shoulder and another bag that fulled with clothes at another hand.

Again, she yawned as she headed to Lacus' house. Everything was going all right until now. She just hoped that Kira wouldn't be able to drag her home after school. She would try her best to avoid Kira during school and ran back home with somebody else as soon as she could.

She had planned everything. Thank goodness she had managed to persuade someone to help her. She couldn't spend her night at Lacus's house since Kira would know it easily. Same went with Miriallia or Shiho, her bestfriends. She couldn't sleep at anyone else's place, anyone who Kira could think of. So he choosed someone that Kira could never think of. He was one of Kira's bestfriend but Kira wouldn't expect she would stay at his house since they were arguing everytime they met. And, even if Kira went to his house, he would never found her there. Cagalli was certain with his acting ability. Her plan was indeed perfect.

"It's so cold...I really should wear thicker clothes..."sighed Cagalli, after sneezing for the fourth time.

After 6 minutes walking, Cagalli finally arrived at Lacus's house. She rang the bell twice, hoping that that the sound wouldn't wake anyone up except Lacus. She felt regret to not bringing her cellphone along. But she had to leave it since calling her was the first thing Kira would do if he found out she went missing.

Cagalli spent 12 minutes and 59 seconds waiting for someone to open the door but only the yawning Siegel opened the door after she rang the bell for seventeenth time.

"Oh, it's you, Cagalli...What's up..."he asked, half-grumbling as he rubbed his eyes.

"I'm sorry for disturbing, Mr Clyne. I just want to wait for Lacus. She is still sleeping, isn't she? Can I go and wait for her in her room?"answered Cagalli as polite as she could.

Siegel just nodded and let her in before shutting the door and went back to his room. Cagalli went straight to Lacus's room. Without knocking the door, she burst into the room. She never bother to knock because she knew Lacus wouldn't mind even if she didn't do so.

The room wasn't big but pretty. It was decorated simply in pink colour, which was Lacus's favourite colour. On the wall, there was a large photo of three person. Lacus was only a little girl in that photo, holding a trophy that she won in a singing competition for children. On her right, stood her father, Siegel Clyne. On her left, there was a pretty woman with long, wavy, pink hair, smiling sweetly as she held Lacus's shoulder. Her face resembled Lacus; no doubt about it since she was Lacus's mother.

To Cagall's despair, Lacus was still sleeping. She thought the pink-haired girl had awaken by the noise that she made earlier when she bursted into the room. Lacus wasn't a heavy sleeper and she was easily awaken. It was really a surprise to see she was still sleeping.

But the blonde began to worry when she saw Lacus breathing heavily in her sleep. She approached her and touched her red cheek. It was burning hot.

"She has a fever..."muttered Cagalli softly. She started to feel pity towards her bestfriend. What Kira did to her must shocked her very much. "Maybe I can make her temperature go down if I do something. .."

Cagalli stood up and took a small towel from Lacus's wardrobe. Then she went to the bathroom, which was attached with the room. Seconds later, she came out with a basin of water and a wet towel. She placed the wet towel on Lacus's warm forehead. Suddenly she remembered something. She wondered whether Siegel knew about this. She didn't think so since if he knew, he had told her earlier. She decided to wake him up and tell him about Lacus's condition.

Lacus stirred suddenly, when Cagalli was about to leave the room. She gave the blonde a weak smile. "Cagalli...what are you doing here...?"

"I'll tell you later. Now, I want you to rest until I bring your father here. Wait for a whi..."

"Don't!"Lacus cut off, shouting weakly. She tried hard to sit. "Don't tell Papa... he will be worried..."

Cagalli immediately rushed towards her and lied her back to the bed, "You can't get up yet, Lacus. Just lie down. Okay, I won't tell your dad. Now, try to sleep, okay?"she said softly.

The pink-haired girl nodded as she held Cagalli's hand. She was still smiling weakly. "Thanks, Cagalli. I don't think I can go to school today. Please tell the teacher, okay? And...Cagalli...please take care of Kira and Athrun for me..."

Lacus's way of speaking made Cagalli felt weird and uneasy. It sounded like she was about to die. "Hey! I know you are sick but don't talk like you are dying! Anyway, how did you and Kira break up?"

The question brought Lacus's tears but she quickly swept them away and smiled. "I broke our promise and yesterday, I saw him hugging a girl, Flay Allster, if I'm not mistaken. He said he loves her."she told Cagalli the story.

"Flay Alster? That red-headed bitch? Doesn't Kira know about what she did to Sai Argyle? And he left you just because of that first-year bitch! I wish I could have a word with him!"said Cagalli furiously. Maybe she could take it if he took any girl else but not Flay Alster. Only a stupid guy would take Flay as his girlfriend when he knew how she was.

Flay Allster was a big name in Kusanagi High. She was a pretty, red-haired girl from class 1-C. Since she entered the school, she received love-letters everyday. At least, she picked Sai Argyle, a senior from 3-A. Even though she was dating with Sai, Flay still went out with another guys without Sai's knowing. She didn't mind snatching another girls's boyfriend. That was why every girl thought she was a real bitch. Only a girl wanted to be her friend, Meer Campbell.

Lacus continued smiling. "I just hope he will be happy, Cagalli. And as for you, appreciate Athrun, okay? He's a good guy."

Cagalli glared at her. "I've said, don't talk like you're dying! Okay, I'll take good care of Athrun. And if I have the chance, I'll tell Kira about your stupid hope. Now, close your eyes and sleep, I'll accompany you for a while. It's tool early for me to go to school."

There was a silence after that. Lacus continued to sleep, not so soundly, though. She was breathing very hard and sometimes she moaned slowly. Cagalli was trying to keep Lacus's temperature down by making sure the towel on her forehead was wet. She felt urge to tell Siegel about it but Lacus didn't wish her doing that so she didn't want to disappointed her.

She knew Lacus didn't want to make her father worry. Her father was the only one she had now. She lost her mother 10 years ago, when she was six. Her mother died in a car accident, right in front of her eyes. It took such a long time before Lacus could forgot about the tragedy. Cagalli never heard Lacus talking about her mother and she didn't bother to ask about it since she didn't want Lacus to be sad again. She knew the story from Kira, who was told by Siegel. Siegel wanted Kira to know about it because he was afraid if Kira asked about her mother and Lacus would be depressed again.

Ever since Cagalli moved to Kusanagi High, she immediately knew Lacus as Kira's girlfriend. They became instant friend. Lacus was the best friend Cagalli ever had and the most perfect girl she ever met. Lacus was pretty, intelligent, not bad in sports and had such a sweet voice. She also kind and polite to everyone. No one, included Cagalli couldn't help but to like her attitude.

Cagalli's thought was killed by Lacus's sudden moan.

"...Uh...Kira...uh...ermm..."

The blonde quickly took the towel on Lacus's forehead anf wet it before placing it back. She looked at her symphatically. She wondered what kind promise Lacus had broken until Kira dared to ditch her. Knowing Lacus, Cagalli couldn't think a single mistake that she had done. Lacus always been so perfect. As far as Cagalli remembered, Kira never complained about Lacus's behaviour. Instead, he always complimented her and advised Cagalli to be like her.

Cagalli left when the clock showed the time 7.30 am. Her first class started at 8.10 am so she had plenty of time to do the things that she should do. She must avoided Kira or else all of her plans would be ruined. Before leaving the room, she took something from her clothes bag, which happened to be a cap that she purposely bought for the plan. She also wore a glasses that she borrowed from a friend a long time ago. She didn't return it because the girl had moved to another school before she had the chance to return it.

In this kind of situation, how Cagalli glad that Kira wasn't in the same class as her. At the beginning of the year, all of them were divided to three classes according to their intelligence. Kira and Lacus managed to get into 2-A, which was the bst class among the three. Cagalli had to go 2-C since she wasn't good at academic. She did very well in sports and poem but when it was about academic, she totally suck!

On her way down, Cagalli met Siegel who was preparing breakfast in the kitchen. Siegel turned when he heard Cagalli's footsteps. "Good morning, Cagalli. Where is Lacus? Is she still asleep?"

"Good morning, Mr Clyne. Lacus won't go to school today. She has a very high fever. Ah, don't tell she that I told you about this. Please pretend that you don't know about it and go check her, yeah?" answered Cagalli.

Siegel was a bit shocked when he heard what Cagalli said. Lacus always told him if she felt sick and it was weird if she kept something secret from him. Since her mother died, she only relied on him. "But...why didn't she tell me?"

Cagalli shurugged and smiled to comfort the older man. "Maybe she doesn't want to make you worry. Don't worry, Mr Clyne. She will be alright after taking medicine. Oh, I must go now, see you!...Err...can I take one of the toasts?"she asked, pointing at the toasts.

"Yeah, please.."

The blonde took a toast and ran straight to the door. Before she went out, she waved and smiled. "Thanks for the toast! Please don't worry, Mr Clyne, Lacus will be allright! Take care of her for me, okay? Ah, tell her if my brother ask me where I am, don't tell him, no matter what he say or do!" With that, she disappeared behind the big door.

The older man just shook his head. He knew Cagalli was a very cheerful girl. And he also knew about Kira, his daughter's boyfriend. The two often argued but they would be fine minutes later. But something in Cagalli's words just now made he felt something had gone wrong between the twin. But he shouldn't worry about that now. He should worry about his sick daughter. He didn't know how to tell her about the news that he just got yesterday.


"Hey!"

A guy with soft, blue hair waved to a certain blonde who was running from afar. The blonde, who was wearing glasses and a cap stopped in front of him and panted. The guy chuckled and patted her shoulder. They looked very close even though they weren't too close, actually. Some of the girls eyed them envily.

"...Auel, everything is all right? Where's he?"asked the blonde.

Auel gave her his usual confident smile. "He hasn't come yet. I ask him to wait for me at home last night. Heh, wonder how will he react when he realize I cheat him..."he said. "What about you, then, Cagalli? You look sleepy, didn't you sleep last night?"

Cagalli pouted and began to walk. Auel walked beside her, looking very cheerful. This made Cagalli pursed her lips irritably. She wondered how could he looked very happy when he had cheated his own bestfriend. "I did. But I woke up too early just now. Maybe I'll sleep in the first class today. What is our first class?"

"...Err...I think it is Biology..."

"Oh, great...that Threin, right? I will sleep soundly."

The two laughed. Both of them knew that their Biology teacher, Mr Threin was very clumsy.

"Maybe I'll sleep too. I slept at 2 o'clock just now. Finishing the game that I bought yesterday, you know."said Auel freely and very handsomely. Several girls blushed just by looking at him.

"Oh, I thought I want to play that game tonight..."Cagalli sighed. Then, she turned to look at Auel. "But, is it really okay, Auel? Are you sure your parents won't be at home tonight? I'll have a big problem if your parents home tonight."

The guy stared back at Cagalli boredly, but still looked very handsome. "How many time should I tell you, Cagalli? They are at PLANT now and they won't be back before next month. Only me will be at home tonight with you, satisfied now? Gee...everything will be all right. Kira is not very smart, you know.Or at least, he is not smarter than me and you, even though both of us are in 2-C."

Again, the blonde pursed her lips irritably. Sometimes, she wondered why he could be so confident. Honestly, she didn't think everything would be all right if it was Auel who was helping her. But she had no choice. She couldn't think about anyone else that could help her. She had to believe in Auel. "...I hope you're right...Anyway, I'll have to warn you. Even though it will be only us tonight, don't you dare to do anything to me!"

"As if I want to do anything to you..."muttered Auel under his breath. But then he gulped when Cagalli threw him her famous death glare. He chuckled nervously. "Okay, okay...I won't. Kira will kill me, no, Kira will send me straight to hell if he know. Anyway, you are worrying about me who you will stay with for a night. What about that guy? You will stay with him for 5 days. I'll be in big surprise if he doesn't do anything to you."

"I don't think he will. You haven't seen him, Auel. You know what, he even asked for my permition to kiss me! Hah! Funny, isn't he?"mocked Cagalli, laughing slightly.

Auel took it as a great joke and laughed loudly. "Really! OMG...Maybe he is somekind of nerd...Oh yeah, we better be hurry, Cagalli or your dear brother will catch us. I don't know why but I kinda feel he is near now."

Cagalli smacked him at head hardly before pulling his hand to run towards the school gate. "Why didn't you tell me earlier, you baka! Now, hurry up!"


Lacus stirred slowly when she heard someone knocked the door. She assumed it must be her father since she knew Cagalli had left for school. "Come in, Papa..." she said weakly. Her body was still burning hot.

Her father came in with a tray of food. He put the tray on the table and helped Lacus to sit. He looked very worried. "Why didn't you tell me that you has a fever, Lacus? And you even asked Cagalli to keep it secret from me. You make me very worried, you know." he scolded.

"I'm sorry, Papa.I just don't want Papa to be worried. "Lacus apologized.

Siegel smiled and took the tray. "I forgive you but next time, tell me if you feel sick or anything. Now, eat the breakfast so you can take the medicine afterward."

There was a silence for a while when Siegel fed the porridge to Lacus's mouth. Lacus seemed enjoying it very much since it had been a long time since her father fed her. Since her mother died, her father took care of her like a princess. This lately, they were very busy with their own matter and didn't have time to spend their time to each other. Lacus didn't mind because she knew her father was busy with his works. But she still missed the feeling when her father was close to her.

Suddenly, she remembered something. "Papa, has Cagalli gone to school?"

"Yeah. She seemed in hurry. Oh yeah, she asked me to say something to you. She said, don't tell her brother where she is no matter what he say or do. I wonder if there is something wrong between them...Cagalli never kept something secret from Kira, right? And what she meant by 'where she is'? Is she running away from home or what?"

The pink-haired girl just shrugged. " Don't know, Papa. Just let them. Cagalli knows what the best for her. Ah, if you don't go to work now, you will be late, Papa. Don't worry, I can take care of myself."

"..Err...that..."Siegel hesitated to tell her the truth. "...today, I'm off from work...I'll take care of you..."

The news delighted Lacus. It meant she could spend the whole day with her father. "Wow! It has been a long time since you are off from work, right, Papa?"

Siegel nodded and forced a smile. "Yeah...Ah, if you have finished eating, I'll take the tray outside. You can rest after this."

Lacus smiled and pushed the tray slowly before lied herself on the bed. Siegel put the blannket properly on her and stroke her hair slowly. "Rest well. Call if you need me, yeah?" he said and left with the empty tray.

Once he was outside, he leaned against the door and closed his eyes. He didn't have heart to tell his daughter the truth. He didn't know how would she react if she knew that her father had lost his job. "Maybe I'll wait until she is well..."


Cagalli spent the whole school hours by hiding from her brother. She didn't even go out during recess. Luckily Auel asked someone to send some foods to Cagalli while he himself was keeping Kira far from their class. Only when the last bell rang, she could go out to do her next plan. Auel guaranteed her that he would keep Kira away from her for 20 minutes so she must hurried and did the plan.

Her heart jumped with joy when she spotted a certain blue-haired guy who looked like wanting to go to the library. She immediately approached him. Once she was at his back, she closed his eyes with both of her hands. "Athrun! Guess who?"

The guy turned. His face looked weird, it seemed like he was thinking whether he should smile or not. "It's you, Cagalli."and he choosed not to smile.

"Hey, can we go somewhere else? I've...a lot to tell you..."said Cagalli, using her fake sad voice.

Athrun fell into her trick and nodded. They went to an isolate block, where Cagalli started her next plan. Athrun was panicked when she began to sob and threw herself into his arms. She held him so tight that he couldn't even move. He wondered what had happened to her. "Cagalli, what's wrong? Why do you cry?"

Cagalli didn't answer but still cried. Her sobs became louder. Athrun began to worry. It was impossible for someone to cry that heavily for nothing. He tried to break the hug but failed. Relucantly, he put a hand on Cagalli's head to comfort her. "Cagalli, tell me what's wrong?"he asked softly.

"...It's Kira...Oh, Athrun, I don't know why he hates you very much...you're not a bad guy...I have no choice, Athrun...I know you are relucant to let me spend my holiday with you but please...he said he won't let me go anywhere...he said he will lock me in my room...I know he meant it...Kira always meant what he said... So, please, Athrun... let me spend my holiday with you..."

The act was so perfect that even Athrun was convinced. "...I did tell you, didn't I? You can spend your holiday with me..."

"Oh, really? Thanks, Athrun..."said Cagalli, as she loosen her hug to stare at Athrun. She knew her fake tears were able to convice Athrun. It had been such a long time since she used that technique. She always used it when she wanted to get something from her parents but since her parents died, she only used it against Kira.

The blue-haired guy gave her a small smile. "I promised you I'll teach you in making a good poem, right? Here, wipe your tears."he said, handing her a tissue.

Cagalli wiped her FAKE tears. It wasn't so hard to pretend to cry. But suddenly...

"Hahahahaha...! I never thought the smart Athrun Zala would fall into that stupid trick!"

Both of them turned to the voice. The voice sounded like Lacus's. But it wasn't Lacus's. It belonged to a girl with long, grey hair. She was laughing very hard that her small eyes almost couldn't be seen. Cagalli didn't know who was she since she wasn't in her class.

"Meer Campbell!"said Athrun, his eyes widened. He seemed to know who she was. "What are you saying?"

Meer smirked evilly at Cagalli and turned to Athrun as she approached them. "I said, I never thought the smart Athrun Zala would fall into that stupid trick! Don't you realize? She was only prenteding to cry!"

Athrun looked at Cagali with his is-that-true look but Cagalli immediately shook her head. She was so surprised that someone could figure out her act. She thought she had given her best shot. "It's not true, Athrun. How could I pretend to cry? I'm not an actress."

"Hah! Your mother could act well when she was young. I won't be surprised if you inherited her talent in acting!"spat Meer as she pointed at Cagalli.

The blonde couldn't stand anymore when her mother was brought into this. Her mother had nothing to do with this and she even didn't know how Meer could know about her mother. "Hey! What do you mean! My mother is not an actress! And how come you know about my mother?"

The grey-haired girl continued to smirk. She had kept the hatred towards Cagalli since she knew Cagalli was Via's daughter. She didn't hate Kira because Kira didn't inherited Via's talent in writing poem. She still remembered about her mother's loss against Via. The loss that made she lost her father... "Your mother, Via Hibiki...Yeah, she is a poet, not an actress...but she beat my mother just because she persuaded the judge! She said to judge she needed the money to raise her children! What about my Mom? Didn't she need the money too?"

"Hey! I don't understand this! Campbell, explain it!"said Athrun, changing look from the confused Cagalli to the smirking Meer.

"Five years ago, my mom and hers competed in a poem competiton. The prize was money, a lot of money. My mom was not a poet, but she entered the competition to win the money. That time, my father was sick and we needed a lot of money to cure him. My mom managed to go to the final, she must competed with Via Hibiki to win. But...but that damn mother of her cheated! My mom saw her talking to the judge before the competiton began. She was crying and pleading the judge to let her win! So..."

"My mom wouldn't do that! If my mom won, she won it fair and square! You are lying, Campbell! My mom was not that type of person!" Cagalli cut off. Her eyes were covered in tears now. She couldn't stand when someone insulted her parents. She wouldn't never forgive that person.

Meer glared at her angrily. "I'm not! And you want to know what happened when your mother got the money? My father died! He wouldn't die if your mother didn't cheat! Your mother killed my father!"

Cagalli clenched her fist as her eyes burned in fire. Athrun had to hold her to prevent her from attacting Meer. She looked so furious that even Athrun gulped when he saw her face. "Let me go, Athrun! How dare she accused my mother cheating!"she ordered.

Athrun still held her back while Meer sweat-dropped. "Calm yourself, Cagalli."

"I SAID, LET ME GO!"

"Campbell, go! Go before she kills you. Go, I said, go now!"said Athrun when he felt he couldn't hold her anymore. Meer nodded and ran away. She never thought Cagalli would be that furious.

"She is running! Let me go, Athrun!" Cagalli was still trying to free herself from Athrun's grip. Now, she had forgotten all her plan. She only knew something; she must killed Meer. She didn't care anymore of what would Athrun thought about her. She didn't care about it anymore. She only cared about her mother's pride. She knew her mother would never cheat and her mother didn't need to cheat.

The blue-haired pulled her into a hug when she didn't stop struggling. He couldn't think about anything else to make her calm. After a while, he felt she was giving up. She cried very hard; her body was trembling. Athrun could feel his shoulder was wet with her tears but he didn't mind. He only wanted to comfort her, even though he didn't know why.

"...My mom...is not a cheater...she never cheated...how dare she said my mom cheated...my mom never did that...and...and it's not...my mom's fault her father died...not my mom's fault..."Cagalli muttered in her sobs.

She could feel a hand stroked her hair softly. She knew whose it was. She was leaning at his body, it must be his. It must be Athrun's. She didn't remembered what was her next plan anymore. She even doubted now, whether she should continue her plan anymore. Athrun was very kind to her. Should she reply it by playing with his heart? She didn't know...she really didn't.

"...Cagalli? Are you all right now?"asked Athrun softly as he loosened his hug. Cagalli looked at him with her swollen eyes.

"Yeah...I'm all right...thanks, Athrun..."she replied.

"Nah, it's okay..."

They were staring at each other meaningfully before someone let go a false cough...

"Hem, hem...sorry if I'm disturbing you two but Cagalli, time is up."

The two turned and their sight met Auel who was looking at the other side. They blushed immediately. Cagalli let go her hands from Athrun's chest while Athrun pulled back his hand on Cagalli's waist. The three of them silnces for a while in embrassement.

Cagalli was the first one who spoke. "...Umm...so, it's the time, right, Auel?"

Auel nodded. He was clutching Cagalli's clothes bag. "Yeah...Kira is helping, err...better if I say is forced to help the teacher now and I don't think he will manage to escape before 1.30 p.m. We must go now."

Athrun seemed startled when he heard what Auel said just now. He looked at Cagalli. "I thought you will choose a girl."he said.

"Err...that...Kira knows all of my girl friends so..."

"So you are Athrun Zala? Hi, nice to meet you. I'm Auel Neider. Ah, I know, you are afraid that I will do something to Cagalli, aren't you? Don't worry, I swear I won't." Auel cut off.

"...It's okay, then."replied Athrun unwillingly. "Where's your house? I will pick Cagalli tomorrow morning."

The blonde looked at Auel and turned to Athrun. "I'll tell you tonight. He doesn't remember his own home adress and so do I. Oh yeah, don't call my cell phone. I left it at home. I'll call you through Auel's cellphone tonight."

The blue-haired guy nodded as the two left him. He sighed when the two disappeared from his sight. He wondered if he had done something right. He had made a sister disobeyed her brother and he also had made a guy lied his own friend...


"Damn, s#$t, kuso! Where the hell did she go!"cursed Kira furiously.

He had expected Cagalli would do this but he thought he would be able to drag her home. He had asked all of Cagalli's friend. He even went to their home to check whether Cagalli was there. But he didn't find her anywhere, even at Lacus's house.

"...Damn it, if only she didn't meet that s$t guy...wait...maybe...maybe she is at his house!"

Kira quickly ran towards a certain house. It had been a long time since he came to the house. 6 minutes later, he arrived at the house. He pushed the bell furiously.

A blue-haired guy opened the house. His face turned as white as ghost once he saw Kira's face. "Ki-Kira!"

"Where is Cagalli!"Kira demanded. "She is here, right!"

The guy shook his head. "She is not here."

The brunette couldn't stand it anymore. He pushed the guy and went inside the big yet empty house. "Where did you hide her, Zala! Tell me!"

Again, Athrun shook his head as he followed Kira into his house. "I didn't hide her, Kira! Hey, you can't burst into someone's house like that! Pay some respect to me, the house's owner! Where is your manner!"he retorted.

"Shut up, Zala!" Kira replied as he checked the rooms in the house one by one. "Don't talk about manner with me! If I find Cagalli here, I'll report to the police that you've kidnapped her! I really will do that!"

"I've said, she isn't here! I don't be surprised she is running away from home. I will do that also if I have a brother like you! Locking your own sister, I'm doubt if you are still sane. You even ditched Lacus! You are insane, Kira!"

Kira glared at Athrun as he entered the last room; Athrun's own room. "Mind your own business, Zala! It has nothing to do with you! I know Cagalli is here. She must be here. I can't find her anywhere else. I even checked at Auel's house but she isn't there. Yeah...she would never ask for Auel's help, she never liked him. But...Ah, let it! I know you are here, Cagalli!"

Deep inside his heart, Athrun felt glad that Cagalli was safe at Auel's place. He was wondering how Auel hid her.

But Athrun began to go berserk when Kira opened his wardrobe and messed everything to find Cagalli. He pulled Kira's hand furiously. "I've said, she's not here! Don't mess my things! Hey! Kira, I can sue you for entering my house without permision! Stop this nonsense!"

After searching for almost half an hour, Kira gave up and started to believe Cagalli wasn't there. He turned to Athrun, who was red with anger now. His room didn't look as a room now. Even the garbage was neater than his room. He turned to Kira and their eyes met. He gritted his teeth.

"NOW, ARE YOU SATISFIED? DO YOU FIND YOUR SISTER HERE? I'VE SAID EARLIER, SHE ISN'T HERE, YOU IDIOT!"

The brunette gulped. He knew how scary Athrun was when he was angry. Even he himself couldn't calm him. "...I...I'm sure...I'm sure that you know where she is! Tell me!"

"EVEN IF I KNOW, I WON'T TELL YOU!" shouted Athrun. His face now ddidn't look like the serious, calm Athrun. He looked more like a monster instead.

"...I'll look for her at another place. And Zala, I want to tell you something. Cagalli isn't serious with you. She hates you, for beating her in the poem contest. I don't like you but if you still have your mind, leave her. She will make you regret someday."said Kira slowly as he left the room. "Mark my words, Zala. Don't say I didn't warn you later."

The blue-haired guy looked at Kira leaving and suddenly remembered something. "Hey! Try to find something on her room!"he shouted, making Kira to turn back with a confused look. Athrun scratched his head in embrassment. "Err...maybe she left something there..."

"...Aahh..."

The first thing Kira did when he reached home was to burst into Cagalli's room. The room was as messy as it always been. He tried to look for 'something' that Athrun said earlier. He was right. Cagalli did leave a note on her table.

Kira,

I'm sorry for making you worry and disobeying you. But I have to do this. For my proud and our parent's. Please forgive me.

Your sister,

Cagalli

The note didn't make Kira's worry gone but he felt a bit relieved. Maybe he should let her do what she wanted. She wasn't a little child anymore. She knew what the best for her. Feeling lighter, Kira left the room and went into his room.

If this make you happy, Cagalli...then I'm happy for you...


At that night, Athrun brought his cell phone anywhere included the bathroom. He was waiting for Cagalli's call. He wanted to know how could Cagalli survive from Kira. At the same time, he felt worried if Cagalli forgot to call him. He was really looked like a love-sick person now. At 9.15 p.m, Athrun's worry flew with the ring of his cell phone.

"Hello? Cagalli, is that you?"

"Hello. Yeah, it's me."

"I thought you've forgotten. So, how came you survived from Kira? He even went to my house and messed everything just to find you."

"Ah, that...I hid in one of Auel's car.. Kira didn't think I'll hide at Auel's place actually, I never showed him I like Auel. I argued with Auel everytime I met him, in fact. But now, he is the one who can help me now."

"Oh, I see... umm...so what are you doing just now?"

"Err...I am watching television...yeah, watching television with Auel..."

"...Oh yeah, what's his address then?"

"...Wait...err...I'll send it after this..."

"Okay. Umm, Cagalli..."

"Yeah?"

"...No, it's nothing. I have another things to do, Cagalli. See you tomorrow."

"Good night, then. See you...umm...I love you, Athrun."

"Good night too."

Athrun cut off the line. He blushed when Cagalli said 'I love you' just now. But he sensed an oddness from her voice. And he couldn't hear any sound of television. He couldn't help but to feel worry. He couldn't help but to feel curious of what the two were doing. No matter what Auel said, it didn't change the fact that he was a boy. No boy would resist if he was alone with a girl. Athrun was quite sure that the two were alone now.

But it was not the matter now. He was about to ask about what Kira said earlier. He couldn't forget what he said; Cagalli was only playing with his heart. He wanted to ask Cagalli just now but it stuck in his throat. He didn't know why couldn't he say it. It seemed like he was afraid to hear the answer.

He shook his head furiously, shoving away the thought. "I am not in love with her and I will not! She can do what she wants and I also can do what I want. I only want to help her in poem, that's all. It can't hurt me. Yeah...I shouldn't pay attention to Kira."


"Hey...Hey, Cagalli, what's wrong?"asked Auel.

Cagalli avoided her gaze. "It's nothing, really."

Auel sat straight. They were at his room; sitting on the large sofa there. He was lying beside Cagalli just now as he read a magazine until he saw her gloomy face. Her face turned like that after talking with Athrun through the cell phone just now. "Cagalli? Oh, come on. Tell me if there's something wrong."

"No...it's just...umm, I don't have a good feeling..."answered Cagali slowly. Her hand was still holding Auel's cell phone.

"Why? Don't tell me that you still don't believe me."

The blonde shook her head. "It's not about you. It is about Athrun."

Athrun's name brought Auel's attention. He stared at Cagalli interestedly. It was hard to see her gloomy face. She always been so cheerful. "Why? Ah, I know! You've fallen in love, Cagalli!"he accused mockingly.

A pillow hit his head. Cagalli looked at him furiously. "I'm not! ...Or...maybe I am..."her voice turned to a sad one again.

"You think you love him?" Auel asked as he hugged the pillow that Cagalli threw at him just now. "You love Athrun Zala?"

Again, Cagalli shook her head. She was really confuse now. "I don't know, Auel. You know, someone insulted my parent just now, when I was with him. I cried and he hugged me. His hug felt so warm, Auel. I love it very much. He consoled me...and I don't know why, it's just...very tender...I wonder if this is love...heh, funny...what's with love, actually? And he is the one who supposed to fall into me, not me falling into him..."

Auel carresed her hair softly in a friendly way. "I think it is love. And if you want to know, there is a lot of things with love...it doesn't matter who fall into who, Cagalli...the matter is, whether you love each other...heh, I talked like a love professor. No matter what you do, I will support you, Cag."

Finally finished Chapter 4! Please review!

P/s I've edited my Asucaga one-shot entitled The Sign of Love. Please read and review! Oh yes, I also wrote a Meer Yuna fic so check out my profile!

-Mayu